UEFA Nations League: Can the Swiss Spoil Host Portugal’s Party?

Portugal vs Switzerland

Portugal once again find themselves deep in a major European competition. They made the semi-finals in three of four European Championships before finally claiming their first major title in Euro 2016.

And now, the reigning European champions have a prime opportunity to add more silverware to their collection as they will have home-field advantage for the inaugural UEFA Nations League Finals.

The hosts will face off against Switzerland in the semi-finals. Most UEFA Nations League 2019 predictions have Portugal going through, in part because they'll be on home turf.

But while the Swiss lack the star power of the Portuguese, they do possess a collective spirit that has gotten them to their first major semi-final in their history.

Talking Points

Portugal's tournament tactics

Portugal find themselves in the Nations League semis after going unbeaten (two wins, two draws) during the league phase to edge out Italy and Poland. After beating both in their first two league games, they drew against both in the second round of games to secure qualification.

What made Portugal's qualification even more impressive was the fact that they did so without the help of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who took time off from the team after the World Cup.

Andre Silva stepped up in Ronaldo's absence. Silva scored three times in their four Nations League matches, including their final match against Poland to help preserve their unbeaten record.

Aside from the returning Ronaldo, they've brought Bernardo Silva -- fresh off a brilliant season with English champions Manchester City -- as well as Diogo Jotta, who scored nine league goals for surprise package Wolverhampton Wanderers.

And last but definitely not least, there's Joao Felix, who has been hailed as the next Ronaldo. The 19-year-old sensation is coming off a strong debut season with Benfica, where he scored 20 goals in 43 overall appearances.

But despite all that attacking talent on hand, manager Fernando Santos' track record suggests that Portugal will likely set up in a more conservative manner in the semi-final against Switzerland and hope to grab a goal in their rare ventures at goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Portugal national team

Suddenly prolific Swiss

Switzerland's road to the semi-finals was a surprisingly entertaining one. The Swiss won three of their four matches: one of which was a 6-0 thrashing of Iceland at home, and the other was an incredible 5-2 home win over Belgium as they came back from an 0-2 deficit inside 20 minutes.

Curiously, Switzerland got a taste of their own medicine in their most recent match as they allowed Denmark to come back from a 3-0 deficit with just six minutes remaining to draw 3-3.

But that match was just another example of the Swiss' sudden sharpness in front of goal. That's despite the lack of a superstar striker that they can rely on; Xherdan Shaqiri -- who will be fresh off a Champions League win with Liverpool -- is the team's leading scorer with 22 goals in 80 caps, followed by inconsistent striker Haris Seferovic with 17 in 59.

Despite being the home side, Portugal will likely be all too happy to cede possession to Switzerland, who must then break down the organised Portuguese defence.

But as prolific as the Swiss have proven to be in some of their recent matches, it remains to be seen whether they can successfully find a way past a stubborn Portugal side that will be spurred on by their home crowd.

Betting Tip

As high-scoring as some of the Swiss' recent matches have been, it seems highly unlikely that Portugal will allow such a match from taking place.

During Portugal's run to the Euro 2016 title, there were just six goals scored in their four knockout matches. And in their last four matches, there have two goals or fewer scored in all four of them.

Expect them to follow a similar conservative blueprint against a Swiss side that could struggle to break down a well-organised defence. That's why SBOBET tips this match to finish with under 2.50 goals.

Talking Points

If that was tough as it was thrilling, Ronald Koeman’s Dutch had it even harder.

They overcame world champions France and their predecessors as the world’s number one, Germany, - producing some of the Nations League highlights en route - all under a new manager after they had failed to qualify for last summer’s World Cup.

It was just over 18 months ago that Koeman left English football with the sack.

Everton had lost faith with him, 17 matches into his second season, with supporters harbouring a suspicion that he always had one eye on a possible future at Barcelona – the club he graced as a player and captained to European and domestic success.

Whether that feeling was true or not, Koeman has only taken charge of half a dozen competitive games since being appointed but he has led a mini-renaissance for Netherlands and for himself as a coach.

Remember, this is a nation which reached the final of the 2010 World Cup and the semi-finals four years later under Louis van Gaal.

Then came a sharp descent under four different coaches, failing to even make the playoff qualifiers for Euro 2016 or Russia 2018 where they finished behind France and Sweden in their group – unable to recover from an early, dispiriting defeat in Bulgaria.

With a number of key players retiring and others struggling for form, Koeman opted for a new broom with a largely young squad tasked with the revival. He admitted few expected Oranje to progress to this stage.

Now they are here, they want to go all the way!

This clash is in the Estadio D Alfonso Henriques in Portugal, with European champions Portugal meeting Switzerland in the other tie.

It will be another chance to see the likes of talented Ajax youngsters such as their captain Matthijs de Ligt, admired by Barcelona, Real Madrid and Man Utd, Frenkie de Jong, former Premier League men Daley Blind and Memphis Depay and current stars such as Virgil van Dijk – fresh from helping Liverpool to Champions League success.

England have their own Liverpool men in Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, as well as a quartet from defeated finalists Spurs in Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Dele Alli and captain Harry Kane – although the latter, clearly not match fit in the Champions League Final after two months’ out, will surely not start in this one.

For most players, it’s the first competitive action for two to three weeks – whether that is a help or a hindrance remains to be seen.

But with a final up for grabs, no quarter should be given in Guimaraes.

England players celebrate after scoring their first goal during the group stage of the World Cup 2018

History

Jesse Lingard netted the only goal when the sides met in an Amsterdam friendly 15 months ago.

Netherlands had won the previous friendly – two years earlier at Wembley – 2-1 when Vincent Janssen (penalty) and Luciano Narsingh scored their goals on a night the crowd remembered the recently passed legend Johan Cruyff.

Their last competitive match, however, came on an unforgettable night for English football when Netherlands were beaten 4-1 in Euro 96, courtesy of doubles from Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham.

Historically, there is nothing between the sides.

Both have six victories each with the other nine clashes ending all square.

All bar five of their 21 meetings games have been international friendlies.

Nations League: Ronaldo Hat-Trick Fires Portugal to Final!

Portugal 3-1 Switzerland

When Cristiano Ronaldo takes the field, expect the unexpected. And tonight boy…did he deliver!

The Juventus superstar looked a little off his game for much of the 90 minutes, but with three moments of genius, he scored three goals and carried Portugal through to the very first UEFA Nations League final.

After Ronaldo had given Portugal a first half lead, against the run of play, there was some serious VAR chaos in the run up to Switzerland’s equaliser, at which point the Swiss looked the more likely to go on and win the game. But Ronaldo found that extra special magic he possesses and it was a real treat for SBOBET Nations League fans, not to mention the home supporters at the Estadio do Dragao.

These two teams are separated by a mere three points in the FIFA World Rankings, with Portugal in seventh and the Swiss in eighth, and it looked like the match was heading for extra time until Cristiano scored two late goals.

Highlights of the game

General view of the scoreboard during the VAR referral at the UEFA Nations League match between Portugal and Switzerland

Switzerland started the better and came very close on 16 minutes when Xherdan Shaqiri sent a beautiful curling ball into the box. Haris Seferovic just needed a touch and it was 1-0, but the ball wizzed narrowly wide.

In his debut game in the tournament, Ronaldo was always going to make the UEFA Nations League news and in the 25th minute he got to work, winning a free-kick around 25 yards out, and when he lined it up there was only going to be one outcome. Switzerland keeper Yann Sommer took a step the wrong way and Ronaldo placed the ball into the bottom right corner.

After more good work from Shaqiri the ball reached Seferovic and this time his shot cannoned off the crossbar and over.

Switzerland was level on 55 minutes but few in the stadium knew what was happening. Steven Zuber went down in the penalty area and when the referee waved play on, Portugal broke at pace, and when Fabian Schar fouled Bernardo Silva the crowd roared as the referee pointed top the spot.

Then the chaos. When the ref consulted VAR he turned the decision full circle and awarded a penalty for the trip on Zuber which looked soft to say the least. Portugal thought they were about to go 2-0 up but it was 1-1 when Ricardo Rodriguez beat Rui Patricio from the spot.

The Swiss looked like they’d go on and win the game. Shaqiri again got behind the Portugal defence and crossed for Seferovic but this time the striker’s header went wide.

But then, with two minutes remaining and extra time looking on the cards, Bernardo Silva pulled a ball back for Ronaldo and he fired superbly into the bottom corner.

Two is rarely enough for Cristiano and he finished the job on 90 minutes, picking the ball up on the left side of the box, cutting inside and curling a beauty into the far corner.

Key Statistics

The pre-match Portugal vs Switzerland betting odds had Portugal to advance at odds of 1.33 and Switzerland at 3.43; but with 55 per cent possession and a shot count of 16 to ten in their favour, the Swiss can feel a little unlucky.

Ronaldo’s 53rd hat-trick for club and country hits the headlines but Switzerland deserved to get something from the game. After qualifying for the finals with more points than any other League A winner they played with composure and dominated for long periods.

And Petkovic’s team still leads the head to heads with ten wins to Portugal’s eight, while Portugal has lost just once in the last 12 months.

What’s next?

Now Santos’ side will play the winner of the other semi final between England and the Netherlands, which takes place tomorrow night, for the title of UEFA Nations’ League winner. The way the players celebrated tonight showed just how much they want to win this tournament to add to their European Championship crown.

For Switzerland it’s a third place play-off, and rest assured, they’ll give any opponent a tough game.

Jadon Sancho, after such a fine season in the Bundesliga, dinked the ball across to Football Writers’ Player of the Year, Raheem Sterling, who nearly got a touch before Daley Blind hacked clear.

Soon afterwards, Memphis Depay called Jordan Pickford into action as the rain came down in Guimaraes.

Then came the key moment of the first half.

Half an hour had passed when acclaimed teenager centre-back Matthijs De Ligt took his eye off the ball and Marcus Rashford took advantage and nipped in before being brought down.

The Manchester United man dusted himself up and then coolly sent Jasper Cillessen the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Oranje were slightly rattled and Sancho nutmegged De Ligt before slipping through Rashford, who was denied by a superb challenge from Denzel Dumfries.

It was a tackle from which the unfortunate Rashford was unable to recover and he was replaced at the break by captain Harry Kane.

Marcus Rashford scores England's first goal from the penalty spot

The second half started in attacking fashion, not least when Sancho could only head the ball straight at Cillessen from a Fabian Delph delivery.

Jordan Pickford was rarely tested by the opposition despite the Netherlands winning the possession battle.

The pressure slowly mounted and De Ligt was determined to make amends, rising above Kyle Walker to power an unstoppable header beyond Pickford from a 73rd minute corner.

Here was a UEFA Nations League news story to add to his many club deeds over the past nine months.

It was nearly even better for Ronald Koeman’s side as, five minutes later, Donny van de Beek – another Ajax man in demand - played a one-two with Dumfries and lashed the ball high from close range as he was leaning back.

End-to-end the action continued, and Barcelona bound Frenkie de De Jong blocked Kane just in the nick of time as he shaped to shoot.

England thought they had regained the lead seven minutes from time when Ben Chilwell and Sterling countered and Ross Barkley released substitute Jesse Lingard whose finish was cool, only for VAR to rule he had strayed a fraction offside.

The drama continued as Steven Bergwijn sent a shot off target after it was deflected into his path off Chilwell.

After VAR’s intervention on a number of occasions, seven minutes of stoppage time was called and Lingard went close with a threatening run and shot and then Depay should have done better after Bergwijn robbed the dawdling Harry Maguire.

Sterling then grazed the top off the crossbar as both sides tried in vin to snatch a winner in normal time.

Into extra-time and Kane, working his way back to fitness after two months out, was the saviour as he cleared a Vigil van Dijk header off the line.

It was an act he would repeat six minutes later as the pressure grew.

Even Kane could not do it all by himself and the striker could only watch from a distance as Depay robbed John Stones and his shot was parried by Pickford before Quincy Promes got to the loose ball which was heading wide before deflecting in off Kyle Walker.

Pickford also prevented Depay with a fine save as Holland finished with a flourish before Promes made sure, making no mistake after Depay dispossessed Barkley and drew out Pickford.

Key statistics

De Ligt is the first Dutch player to concede a penalty and score a goal in a single game since Stefan de Vrij in 2014 (vs Spain).

This was the first time Holland have scored twice in extra-time 1907 against Belgium.

In the absence of Kane from the starting line-up, Sterling was given the captaincy to mark his 50th cap. Having scored just twice in 45 matches, he had notched six goals in the four games coming into this.

Sterling is the third youngest player to reach 50 caps for England (24years, 180days), behind only Wayne Rooney in 2009 (23years, 159days) and Michael Owen in 2003 (23years 179days).

Rashford has scored four goals in his last seven appearances for England - one more than he netted in his first 25 games for his country.

UEFA Nations League: Another Third Place Clash for Lions

England vs Switzerland

Semi-final heartbreak is becoming a habit for Gareth Southgate’s England. After losing in the World Cup at this stage; the same fate awaited the young Lions in the UEFA Nations League.

So Southgate must pick his team up in time for a third place play-off against Switzerland at the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques on Sunday, in a game the Swiss are more likely to enjoy. Their defeat to Portugal in the semi-final was the very first time they had reached the last four in a major competition, so Vladimir Petkovic’s side will be delighted with the chance to finish third.

The UEFA Nations League has been a great success, not only for SBOBET football fans, but also for the international coaches and teams who have had a chance to play truly competitive games between World and European Championships.

Talking Points

Young Lions still have plenty to learn

Gareth Southgate has some thinking to do before heading back to Guimares, after his team lost convincingly to the Netherlands on Thursday night; but he is likely to stick with his strategy of blooding and trusting young talent, despite watching some catastrophic defending in the semi-final, centre back John Stones getting caught out twice, trying to play the ball out from the back.

In Southgate’s 34 match reign at the helm, he has fielded a starting eleven with an average age under 25, ten times. The previous 17 managers in charge of England did this just ten times in 595 matches between them! And the manager encourages his young players to stay true to their football values and continue to play the ball on the floor and use it creatively, wherever they are on the pitch.

Of the two extra time errors which handed the Dutch a deserved win, Southgate said: “They are passes our players can play with absolutely no problem, but it wasn't just the two goals, we made errors and gave opportunities away that should have been punished before that. The Dutch pressed very well with real intensity and I think we've learned so much in terms of playing against a top quality team that posed us different problems than we've faced in the past.

Whether the England boss regrets his decision to leave out key players who took part in the Champions League final between Liverpool and Spurs last week is a matter for him. He left out his captain Harry Kane and midfield general Jordan Henderson; but in a game with less riding on it, he may not bring his big guns back for the play-off.

We could see a start for Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson alongside Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho, while Tom Heaton could get the nod in goal, if Southgate wants to rest his number one keeper Jordan Pickford.

Xherdan and Haris can reap dividends

Switzerland had the better of their semi-final against Portugal, but were undone by a spectacular hat-trick from who else but Cristiano Ronaldo. Had it not been for the intervention of the Juventus star then Switzerland’s wide man Xherdan Shaqiri would have won the man-of-the-match.

Xherdan Shaqiri gave Portugal a hard time in the UEFA Nations League semi-final

The Liverpool winger tormented the Portugal defence all night and teed up three very good chances for front man Haris Seferovic, who hit the crossbar with one effort. And these two are likely to link up again against England. Petkovic doesn’t have the riches at his disposal that Southgate has, but they performed brilliantly in the Nations League group stage and have been in the FIFA rankings top ten for most of the last 12 months.

The UEFA Nations League 2019 betting tips will place the Swiss as underdogs again, but that won’t worry a side full of confidence. And look out for exciting 19 year old winger Noah Okafor, who could be in line for a debut.

History

England is unbeaten in 11 internationals against Switzerland since 1954, winning eight and drawing three, and their semi-final defeat followed a run of five consecutive wins.

Switzerland has won three of the last six games, but in Seferovic the underdogs have the most prolific Nations League striker in this match; he’s netted five times while England’s Marcus Rashford has three.

Dutch players applaud fans prior to the start of the UEFA Nations League match vs England

For Holland are seemingly a national football team on the up. One in which a style of football, that has been bred deep into the system since Rinus Michels and all that, is very much at the forefront of the class of 2019.

That and the emergence of several key players in the vibrant Ajax team who came within seconds of reaching the Champions League final - one which has really set pulses racing in the home of Johan Cruyff and ‘Total Football’.

Man for man, in many ways you would say Holland have the better players, both in terms of potential and current talent.

Yet Portugal have Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the semi-final success against the Swiss, the now 34 year-old was up front alongside the shining new star in the Portuguese firmament, Joao Felix.

He was making his international debut in this tournament after missing the qualifiers to reach this stage.

Yet, even at this age, even for his critics who jealousy described him as one of the most divisive sporting figures of his era, there can be no debate that, when the match is on the line, there is still nobody to touch him.

Competitor, genius, flawed human, but as a player for the big moment, has there really been anyone to touch him?

I don’t think so.

He could yet another title on Sunday to his already priceless collection.

History

In fact, while history shows an overall record of seven Portuguese victories, four draws and two Dutch triumphs, Portugal have won in all bar one meeting in a major tournament.

Never mind last season’s friendly in which Holland won 3-0, courtesy of goals from Memphis Depay, Ryan Babel and Virgil van Dijk, or the 1-1 draw in 2013 when Kevin Strootman’s opener was cancelled out by Ronaldo.

Look back, instead, at previous meetings in the World Cup or European Championship.

For example, the Euro 2004 semi-finals when goals from a young Ronaldo and a Nuno Maniche beauty fired Portugal to a 2-1 success.

Or two years later in a match dubbed the ‘Battle of Nuremberg’ when Maniche was again the scorer as the Dutch were knocked out of the World Cup at the last 16.

The contest set a new record for the most red cards (four) in a World Cup finals match. It also equalled the record for yellow cards - 16 yellows were also shown in the game between Germany and Cameroon in Shizuoka in 2002.

Fast forward six years and Portugal were at it again – defeating the Dutch on the major stage.

This time a Ronaldo double sealed a 2-1 win after Rafael van der Vaart had put Holland in front.

Switzerland had the better of their semi-final for long periods but were eventually undone by a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick. But they can’t have any complaints today having been outplayed by England from start to finish.

The UEFA Nations League betting odds predicted an England Portugal final but for Gareth Southgate’s men, this was their chance to end the season on a high.

Highlights of the game

Switzerland had the first chance of the match but Kevin Mbabu blazed over; and then England came within a whisker of taking the lead in just the second minute when Harry Kane raided down the right wing and lifted a clever lob over Yann Sommer; but the Swiss keeper was relieved to watch the ball cannon off the bar and to safety.

Raheem Sterling then had a glorious chance to put the Three Lions ahead, on 14 minutes, after good work from Kane he found himself in on goal, but instead of putting his laces through the ball he shot tamely at Sommer.

And the Manchester City player had another great opportunity on the half hour when Trent Alexander-Arnold put in a pinpoint cross, but Sterling swung his foot at fresh air as the ball skidded agonisingly by.

England’s midfield was over-run by the Netherlands in their semi-final defeat, but they were all over the Swiss in the first half, and when Alexander Arnold put in another superb cross Dele Alli should have scored, but couldn’t keep his header down.

But the sloppy defending which cost England so dearly against the Netherlands gave Switzerland their best chance of the half. Fabian Delph was exposed in defence and when Remo Freuler put Haris Seferovic through on goal, only a last-ditch challenge from Harry Maguire saved England.

Sommer kept the scores level with a world-class save ten minutes into the second half. When Danny Rose put in a dangerous ball Fabian Schar could only divert the ball towards his own goal but the keeper stretched to tip it onto the post.

And then as the Swiss switched defence into attack Granit Xhaka fired at Pickford but the Everton stopper made a good save.

Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri had been superb for Switzerland against Portugal but was quieter today and limped off just after the hour nursing a calf strain, replaced by Steven Zuber.

Sterling had his third big chance of the game when England broke quickly and when the ball was squared he chose not to hit it the first time and it ran to safety. Then Zuber had a chance for Switzerland but shot tamely wide when his opportunity came.

England thought they broke the deadlock on 84 minutes. Raheem Sterling crossed for Alli and his header crashed against the bar, and when substitute Callum Wilson lifted the loose ball into the net the 15,000 England fans celebrated. But VAR, as it did in the semi-final, broke their hearts. Wilson was adjudged to have fouled in the build-up, but it looked soft.

In extra-time, Alexander-Arnold put in another superb cross, but again Sterling failed to convert. Sommer kept the scores level with a brilliant double save from Sterling and Alli and England looked to be the only side capable of winning it. But the woodwork saved Switzerland for the fourth time when Sterling’s beautiful free kick crashed against the bar.

And so to penalties…

Maguire and Zuber both scored and Ross Barkley chipped in a cool Panenka. Granit Xhaka rolled in his spot kick to make it 2-2.

Sommer got close to Jadon Sancho’s penalty but not close enough and Amanji levelled for the Swiss. It hadn’t been Sterling’s day but he delivered.

Pickford went the right way but couldn’t stop Mbabu’s effort and then the England keeper took a penalty himself and slammed it home. Schar was cool as you like to make it 5-5.

Eric Dier scored to make it 6-5 and then Pickford saved Josip Drmic’s penalty.

Justice!

Yann Sommer in action for Switzerland during the UEFA Nations League match against England

Key statistics

The pre-match SBOBET odds had the draw at 3.30, but England were desperately unlucky not to win in normal and extra time.

The Champions League final featuring two Premier League teams undoubtedly interrupted England’s preparation for the Nations League semi-final and Southgate made seven changes to his side. And they certainly looked the brighter side in the first half, with three clear cut chances and while Switzerland registered five shots, only once did they really threaten Pickford’s goal.

That pattern continued but England couldn’t break through, but the Three Lions are unbeaten in 12 internationals against Switzerland since 1954.

What’s next?

So England finish in third place, and now the Netherlands take on Portugal for the title this evening; so we’ll be right back with all the UEFA Nations League highlights for that game.

And then it’s back to Euro 2020 qualifying and, after the start of the Premier League season, England will host Bulgaria and then Kosovo in September, while Switzerland visits the Republic of Ireland and then hosts the minnows of Gibraltar.

Why else would this squad have achieved what it has because, on paper, most people would agree this Portugal side is not as collectively talented as arguably half a dozen other international sides and much larger nations.

It is, of course, because of that voracious trophy-hoovering hunger that Ronaldo possesses and who could argue he didn’t deserve yet another as he lifted the inaugural Nations League.

This week the Portuguese newspaper Diário de Notícias carried an article suggesting this Nations League is worth €150m (£130m) to the Portuguese economy – but only if Ronaldo plays. Without Ronaldo the brands hang back, the TV interest wanes, even ticket sales would fall.

Fortunately for all of them, they still have the most amazing athlete on planet football on their side.

All things have an end point. Ronaldo will be 35 years old by the time the next major final comes around for club or country.

But for now, all of us SBOBET fans should treasure this remarkable individual.

Highlights of the game

As for the Nations League highlights that matter, the closest to a goal in the opening period came when a 12th minute corner was played short to Bruno Fernandes whose cross-cum-shot whistled just past William Carvalho’s head.

Portugal were pressing and well on top but the Dutch, without mustering one effort on target in the first 45 minutes, were standing firm.

Into the second half and, after an initial flutter from Ronald Koeman’s men, Portugal came closest to scoring again after persistence from Ronaldo and Ruben Dias forced the first of a series of corners during a spell of home pressure.

For all their superiority, Portugal needed to make one of their breaks into Holland territory count and, when they did on the hour, boy was it worth waiting for.

Bernardo Silva bamboozled the Dutch defence with a neat flick back into the path of Gonçalo Guedes who powered home a rifle of a shot from the edge of the area.

Porto erupted. Portugal were ahead.

Ironically, Holland had just started to offer their own threat before the goal and should have been level almost immediately but Rui Patricio – for so long a spectator – kept out Memphis Depay’s downward header.

Patricio also pushed away a Donny van de Beek effort but Portugal, just as they have had so many times in their meetings with the Dutch, held the aces when it mattered.

The question now is whether this young Dutch side - potentially, player for player of greater talent than the champions of Europe - can go onto achieve what Ronaldo has inspired his countrymen to do over the past 15 years.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo holding the UEFA Nations League trophy

Reaching the final of European football’s newest tournament isn’t a bad start and will give Koeman and his young players - combined with some experienced heads - a fine platform upon which to build.

Key statistics

Portugal are the first European nation to host and win a final of a major competition since France beat Brazil 3-0 in the final of the 1998 World Cup.

Portugal are unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions, their longest unbeaten run since between February 2009 and June 2010 under manager Carlos Queiroz (19 games).

Guedes has been directly involved in five goals in his last eight appearances for Portugal (three goals and two assists).

Portugal have only lost two of their last 14 international encounters with Netherlands in all competitions (won eight, drawn four).

Netherlands have never beaten Portugal in Portugal, drawing two and losing four of their six meetings in all competitions.

Seven of the last eight hat-tricks scored by Portugal have come from Ronaldo.

What’s next?

It’s season end now for both countries.

They will be back in the autumn, of course - Portugal visit Serbia and Lithuania in the space of four days in qualifying, while Holland travel to Germany and Estonia - and both are expected to be among the protagonists at next summer’s Euro 2020.